(CNN) - Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain said it would be "great" to impeach the president, but that the Democratic controlled Senate would prevent such action.

On a conference call with bloggers Tuesday night, the former Godfather's Pizza CEO called the health care law and the Obama administration's stance over the Defense of Marriage Act impeachable offenses.
The news was first reported by POLITICO and later confirmed to CNN by the Cain campaign.

"There are a number of things where a case could be made in order to impeach him, but because Republicans do not control the United States Senate, they would never allow it to get off the ground," Cain said on the call. "The president is supposed to uphold the laws of this nation … and to tell the Department of Justice not to uphold the Defense of Marriage Act is a breach of his oath."

soundoff(1,100 Responses)

Antonio666

Back in the 1960s, Southern "states rights" advocates made the same claims (unconstitutional, impeachable offense) against Kennedy and Johnson for sending troops to integrate schools in the Deep South. I wonder where Herman Cain would be right now if the Civil Rights movement had been held hostage by Southern bigots threatening to impeach Kennedy and Johnson.

August 17, 2011 05:20 pm at 5:20 pm |

Piltdown Man

If a GOP candidate can find a crazy thing to say, and get bumped up to the front page of CNN? They'll do it.

I want the GOP Presidential candidates not to be insane, bigoted racists. I guess none of us get what we want.

August 17, 2011 05:23 pm at 5:23 pm |

Sylvia

As an African American, this man offends and insults me. He is incredably stupid. He has no shame. I am ashame for him. He has benefited from all of Civil Right programs and business development programs in the United States. He is pretending to be white and trying to forget his roots. This can't happen. Every time he looks in the mirror, he will see a black face. Mr. Cain, you'll never be white no matter how much bleaching cream you use.

August 17, 2011 05:24 pm at 5:24 pm |

Jeremy

It's funny how republicans will say something liberals dont like and all they can say is "idiot" or "stupid". Guess what, not everyone agrees with you liberals!! Herman Cain said something he believes in and I see people on this board calling him an idiot or stupid. It's getting old to see liberals hid behind these words without any basis. Last time I checked he was the CEO of a company, what did you do? Come up with some new material liberals instead of tagging people with 4th grade words.

August 17, 2011 05:25 pm at 5:25 pm |

Terry Gloege

I used to think Herman had some sense but this has changed my mind. Herman, Herman, Herman, you can only stoop so far to appease the Tea Party before you fall flat on your face.

August 17, 2011 05:27 pm at 5:27 pm |

EMervin

Not one of the other Republican contenders said what Cain has said, and it reminds us so much of when the slave trade was taking place, as Africans literally helped sell Africans as slaves to the white slave traders. Judas was not the only one who sold out his own.

August 17, 2011 05:27 pm at 5:27 pm |

All Politicians Are Domestic Enemies

Ironically, they have all taken the oath to defend America against all enemies, foreign and domestic. If any other band of theives and oppressors numbering less than 600 tried to do to us what our three branches of governmnet have and will continue to do, we wouldn't abide by it for long at all. No President will ever have the opportunity to lead again due to the fundamental devisiveness between people who want to be free and those who prefer capitalistic or socialistic slavery. We're screwed until they put legislation and voting online, making our government truly by, of and for the people.

August 17, 2011 05:27 pm at 5:27 pm |

Ruby Gumshoe

Cain, you ignoranus (no, that's NOT a typo!), the House can impeach Obummer at will; impeachment is nothng more than bringing him up on formal charges. AFTER impeachment comes the trial in the Senate; if convicted here (highly unlikely) only then can he be removed from office.

Get an education, man!

August 17, 2011 05:27 pm at 5:27 pm |

Really?

Matt, what is funnier still. Is someone who knows nothing about the constitution, such as yourself, trying to lecture others on constitutional law and impeachment. Now that is some funny stuff.

August 17, 2011 05:30 pm at 5:30 pm |

Marcia Smith

Mr. Cain: You just lost me. I thought you were serious. If we let George Bush get away with everything he pulled, we won't be impeaching any presidents any time soon. Respectfully (but you're going to have to win it back.)

August 17, 2011 05:30 pm at 5:30 pm |

Bill 55

It's really astounding that the Repugs complain about rampant socialism in the US., and yet Canada, Sweeden, and the U.K. just to name a few countries have socialist health care and a AAA rating. How's that AA+ rating workin' out for ya? You folks deserve Perry and his minimum wage jobs. Vote Perry!

August 17, 2011 05:32 pm at 5:32 pm |

james - St. Paul, MN

Cain says another silly thing in a long string of silly things. Apparently, somebody at CNN thinks this is news.

August 17, 2011 05:34 pm at 5:34 pm |

markiejoe

Did I mention that I stopped buying Godfather's Pizza about seven years ago?

August 17, 2011 05:34 pm at 5:34 pm |

Jack V

Oh man! I have never seen a bigger bunch of crybabies in my life! Is there a GOP wanna be POTUS that acts like anything besides a cartoon character? Why can't they get it through their thick heads we can't go back to the 1800's?

August 17, 2011 05:34 pm at 5:34 pm |

Anon

Huh a black republican. What a moron. If we impeach Obama then we must execute GW Bush and his cronies for treason.

August 17, 2011 05:34 pm at 5:34 pm |

Robert

At least Cain's had a real job. Obama has never had a real job in his life – just another Ivy-league educated snob who thinks he can guide our country through the economic woes he's created even though he has NO IDEA what it's like to struggle. Cain would at least take race out of the next election unlike the election Nobama won strictly based opn the color of his skin.

August 17, 2011 05:35 pm at 5:35 pm |

The Greedy Old Pigs have declared class war on US!

For you revisionist historians, here are some facts about Bush's "elections(s)". The recount did NOT prove Bush won. Various counting methods showed Bush won and others showed Gore won. The thing to remember, though, is that Gore would win a full statewide recount of overvotes and undervotes. That method is the one the Florida Supreme Court seemed to be favoring before the SCOTUS appointed Bush in one of greatest legal travesties in US history.

Second, a lawsuit currently underway in Ohio has uncovered evidence showing that a "man in the middle" server was installed for the 2004 Ohio vote count. According to one expert, this would have allowed Rove to manipulate the vote to ensure Bush won based on phantom votes added on the MOM server. These are important facts in our nation's history. Learn them.

August 17, 2011 05:36 pm at 5:36 pm |

Copper's Donut Shoppe

This guy is a real hoot...
...I bet for 100 million to him and 100 million to Backwoman I could get them to do the wild thing on
pay-per-view..
....I would make a billion dollars...

August 17, 2011 05:39 pm at 5:39 pm |

Robita

Because of his position of marriage? What has our country come to? I just don't have the energy to say any more about it I'm so sad.

Yeah right let's just waste a couple more months holding hearings and spending time on that nonsense instead of addressing the real issues facing this country. Wouldn't the repubs liove that. There is no end to the crazy self righteous gop candidates

August 17, 2011 05:40 pm at 5:40 pm |

Abda

If Herman Cain was a white man who would be a racist. This guy is out of his damn mind. He talks about living through the civil rights era yet he is out spewing prejudicial comments about muslims. Didn't Martin Luther King say we should judge about the content of ones character and not color. Same could be said to judge individuals actions and not the faith they follow. If he gets .0001% of any vote I will be very disappointed.

August 17, 2011 05:41 pm at 5:41 pm |

Big_D

Now we have the champion of bankruptcy telling us how to waste more time. Maybe you should stick to bankrupting private companies Cain.